U.S. patent application number 13/853668 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-05 for methods for detecting dihydrotestosterone by mass spectrometry.
This patent application is currently assigned to Quest Diagnostics Investments Incorporated. The applicant listed for this patent is QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INVESTMENTS INCORPORATED. Invention is credited to Nigel J. Clarke, Amit Ghoshal, Richard E Reitz.
Application Number | 20130228680 13/853668 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42075045 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130228680 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ghoshal; Amit ; et
al. |
September 5, 2013 |
METHODS FOR DETECTING DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE BY MASS SPECTROMETRY
Abstract
Provided are methods for determining the amount of
dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in a sample using mass spectrometry. The
methods generally involve ionizing DHT in a sample and detecting
and quantifying the amount of the ion to determine the amount of
DHT in the sample.
Inventors: |
Ghoshal; Amit; (Valencia,
CA) ; Clarke; Nigel J.; (Oceanside, CA) ;
Reitz; Richard E; (San Clemente, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INVESTMENTS INCORPORATED |
Wilmington |
DE |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Quest Diagnostics Investments
Incorporated
Wilmington
DE
|
Family ID: |
42075045 |
Appl. No.: |
13/853668 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13426435 |
Mar 21, 2012 |
8410428 |
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13853668 |
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12851505 |
Aug 5, 2010 |
8158931 |
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13426435 |
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12272663 |
Nov 17, 2008 |
7804063 |
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12851505 |
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61103202 |
Oct 6, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
250/282 ;
250/281 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01J 49/0036 20130101;
G01N 33/743 20130101; H01J 49/26 20130101; H01J 49/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
250/282 ;
250/281 |
International
Class: |
H01J 49/00 20060101
H01J049/00; H01J 49/26 20060101 H01J049/26 |
Claims
1. A method for determining an amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
in a body fluid sample, the method comprising: (a) ionizing the DHT
from the body fluid sample under conditions suitable to produce one
or more ions detectable by mass spectrometry; (b) determining the
amount of the one or more ions by mass spectrometry; and (c)
comparing the determined amount of the one or more ions with an
internal standard to determine the amount of the DHT in the body
fluid sample.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHT is underivatized.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to ionizing,
purifying the DHT using at least one of atmospheric pressure
chemical ionization (APCI), solid phase extraction (SPE), high
turbulence liquid chromatography (HTLC), and high performance
liquid chromatography (HPLC).
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the ionizing in (a) further
comprises generating a precursor ion with a mass/charge ratio of
291.10.+-.0.50 and generating one or more fragment ions selected
from the group consisting of ions with a mass/charge ratio of
255.20.+-.0.50 and 79.20.+-.0.50.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more ions determined
by mass spectrometry in (c) are selected from the group consisting
of ions with mass to charge ratios of 291.10.+-.0.50,
255.20.+-.0.50, and 79.20.+-.0.50.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the internal standard comprises
an isotopically labeled steroid.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the internal standard comprises
16,16,17-d.sub.3 dihydrotestosterone (16,16,17-d.sub.3 DHT).
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising ionizing the internal
standard to generate one or more standard ions and generating a
standard curve using the one or more standard ions.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising ionizing the internal
standard to generate one or more standard precursor ions with a
mass/charge ratio of 294.10.+-.0.50 and generating one or more
standard fragment ions with a mass/charge ratio of
258.20.+-.0.50.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method has a limit of
quantitation within a range of 5.0 ng/dL to 200 ng/dL,
inclusive.
11. A kit for determining an amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in
a body fluid sample, the kit comprising: one or more isotopically
labeled analogues as an internal standard for the DHT; packaging
material; and instructions for using the kit for determining the
amount of the DHT.
12. The kit of claim 11, wherein the internal standard comprises
one or more isotopically labeled steroids.
13. The kit of claim 11, wherein the internal standard comprises
16,16,17-d.sub.3 dihydrotestosterone (16,16,17-d.sub.3 DHT).
14. The kit of claim 11, wherein the body fluid sample comprises at
least one of a plasma and a serum.
15. The kit of claim 11, wherein the DHT is underivatized.
16. A method for determining an amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
in a body fluid sample, the method comprising: (a) purifying and
ionizing the DHT from the body fluid sample under conditions
suitable to produce one or more ions detectable by mass
spectrometry; (b) determining the amount of the one or more ions by
mass spectrometry; and (c) comparing the determined amount of the
one or more ions with an internal standard comprising an
isotopically labeled steroid to determine the amount of the DHT in
the body fluid sample.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the DHT is underivatized.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the internal standard comprises
16,16,17-d.sub.3 dihydrotestosterone (16,16,17-d.sub.3 DHT).
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the mass spectrometry is tandem
mass spectrometry.
20. The method of claim 16, further comprising ionizing the
internal standard to generate one or more standard precursor ions
with a mass/charge ratio of 294.10.+-.0.50 and generating one or
more standard fragment ions with a mass/charge ratio of
258.20.+-.0.50.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 13/426,435 filed Mar. 21, 2012 which is a continuation of U.S.
application Ser. No. 12/851,505 filed Aug. 5, 2010, which is a
continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/272,663 filed Nov. 17,
2008, which claims the benefit of U.S. Application Ser. No.
61/103,202 filed Oct. 6, 2008, which are incorporated by reference
herein in their entirety including all figures and tables.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to the detection of
dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In a particular aspect, the invention
relates to methods for detecting dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by mass
spectrometry.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The following description of the background of the invention
is provided simply as an aid in understanding the invention and is
not admitted to describe or constitute prior art to the
invention.
[0004] Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
[(17.beta.-hydroxy-5a-androstan-3-one)] is a steroid hormone with a
molecular weight of 290.4 Daltons. DHT is a potent androgen
synthesized by peripheral tissues from testosterone. Excessive DHT
secretion can produce acne, hirsutism and virilization via
conversion to testosterone. DHT is a causal agent in prostate
hyperplasia and measurements in blood can be used to assess
compliance and response to inhibitors of testosterone to DHT
conversion.
[0005] Mass spectrometric methods for measuring DHT in a sample
have been reported. See, e.g., Chang, Y., et al., Analyst 2003,
128:363-8; Caruso, D., et al., Neurochem Int 2008, 52:560-8; Wang,
C., et al., Steroids 2008, 73:1345-52; Zhao, M., et al., Steroids
2004, 69:721-6; Janzen, N., et al., J Chroma B 2008, 861:117-22;
Licea-Perez, H., et al., Steroids 2008, 73:601-10; Kashiwagi, B.,
et al., J Andrology 2005, 26:586-91; Kashiwagi, B., et al., Urology
2005, 66:218-23; Umera, M., et al., Cancer Sci 2007, 99:81-86; and
Mohler, et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/973,127 (filed
Oct. 8, 2007).
SUMMARY
[0006] The present invention provides methods for detecting the
amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in a sample by mass
spectrometry, including tandem mass spectrometry. Preferably, the
methods of the invention do not include derivatizing DHT in a
sample prior to the mass spectrometry analysis.
[0007] In one aspect, methods are provided for determining the
amount of underivatized dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in a body fluid
sample. Methods of this aspect include: (a) purifying DHT in a body
fluid sample by solid phase extraction; (b) ionizing DHT from the
body fluid sample to produce one or more DHT ions detectable by
mass spectrometry, wherein the produced ions are selected from the
group consisting of a DHT precursor ion with a mass to charge ratio
of 291.10.+-.0.50, and one or more DHT fragment ions selected from
the group consisting of 255.20.+-.0.50 and 79.20.+-.0.50; and (c)
detecting the amount of one or more DHT ions by mass spectrometry.
Once the amount of the one or more DHT ions is measured, the amount
of DHT ion(s) is used to calculate the amount of underivatized DHT
in the test sample. In some embodiments, the mass spectrometry is
tandem mass spectrometry. In some embodiments, solid phase
extraction and mass spectrometric analysis are conducted in an
on-line fashion. In some embodiments, solid phase extraction is
conducted as high turbulence liquid chromatography (HTLC). In some
embodiments, the methods further comprising purifying DHT in a body
fluid sample prior to mass spectrometry with high performance
liquid chromatography (HPLC); preferably with on-line processing.
In some embodiments, the body fluid sample is plasma or serum. In
some embodiments, the methods have a limit of quantitation within
the range of 5 ng/dL to 200 ng/dL, inclusive. In some embodiments,
the amount of one or more DHT ion(s) detected by mass spectrometry
is used to calculate the amount of underivatized DHT in a test
sample by comparison to an internal standard; preferably
16,16,17-d.sub.3 dihydrotestosterone. The features of the
embodiments listed above may be combined without limitation for use
in methods of the present invention.
[0008] In a second aspect, methods are provided for determining the
amount of underivatized dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in a test sample
by mass spectrometry. Methods of this aspect include: (a) purifying
DHT in a test sample with high turbulence liquid chromatography
(HTLC); (b) ionizing DHT from a test sample to produce one or more
DHT ions detectable by mass spectrometry; and (c) detecting the
amount of one or more DHT ions by mass spectrometry. In these
methods, the amount of the DHT ion(s) measured is used to calculate
the amount of DHT in the test sample. In some embodiments, the mass
spectrometry is tandem mass spectrometry. In some embodiments,
purifying DHT in a test sample comprises purifying with high
performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); preferably configured for
on-line processing. In some embodiments, the test sample is a body
fluid sample; preferably plasma or serum. In some embodiments, the
DHT ions detectable by mass spectrometry include one or more ions
selected from the group consisting of ions with a mass/charge ratio
of 291.10.+-.0.50, 255.20.+-.0.50, and 79.20.+-.0.50. In some
embodiments, the step of ionizing DHT includes generating a
precursor ion with a mass/charge ratio of 291.10.+-.0.50, and
generating one or more fragment ions selected from the group
consisting of ions with a mass/charge ratio of 255.20.+-.0.50 and
79.20.+-.0.50. In some embodiments, the methods have a limit of
quantitation within the range of 5.0 ng/dL to 200 ng/dL, inclusive.
In some embodiments, the amount of one or more DHT ion(s) detected
by mass spectrometry is used to determine the amount of
underivatized DHT in a test sample by comparison to an internal
standard; preferably 16,16,17-d.sub.3 dihydrotestosterone. The
features of the embodiments listed above may be combined without
limitation for use in methods of the present invention.
[0009] In at third aspect, methods are provided for determining the
amount of underivatized dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in a body fluid
sample by tandem mass spectrometry. Methods of this aspect include:
(a) purifying DHT from a body fluid sample by high turbulence
liquid chromatography (HTLC); (b) generating a precursor ion of
said DHT having a mass/charge ratio of 291.10.+-.0.50; (c)
generating one or more fragment ions of a precursor ion, wherein at
least one of said one or more fragment ions comprise a fragment ion
selected from the group of fragment ions having a mass/charge ratio
of 255.20.+-.0.50 and 79.20.+-.0.50; and (d) detecting the amount
of one or more of said ions generated in step (b) or (c) or both.
The amount of ions detected is used to calculate the amount of
underivatized DHT in a body fluid sample. In some embodiments,
purifying DHT from a test sample further comprises high performance
liquid chromatography (HPLC); preferably configured for on-line
processing. In some embodiments, the body fluid sample is plasma or
serum. In some embodiments, the methods have a limit of
quantitation within the range of 5.0 ng/dL to 200 ng/dL, inclusive.
In some embodiments, the amount of one or more DHT ion(s) detected
by mass spectrometry is used to calculate the amount of
underivatized DHT in the test sample by comparison to an internal
standard; preferably 16,16,17-d.sub.3 dihydrotestosterone. The
features of the embodiments listed above may be combined without
limitation for use in methods of the present invention.
[0010] Methods of the present invention involve the combination of
liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. In preferred
embodiments, the liquid chromatography is HPLC. One preferred
embodiment utilizes HPLC alone or in combination with one or more
purification methods such as for example HTLC and/or protein
precipitation and filtration, to purify DHT in samples. In another
preferred embodiment, the mass spectrometry is tandem mass
spectrometry (MS/MS).
[0011] In certain preferred embodiments of the methods disclosed
herein, mass spectrometry is performed in positive ion mode.
Alternatively, mass spectrometry is performed in negative ion mode.
Various ionization sources, including for example atmospheric
pressure chemical ionization (APCI) or electrospray ionization
(ESI), may be used in embodiments of the present invention. In
certain preferred embodiments, DHT is measured using APCI in
positive ion mode.
[0012] In preferred embodiments, DHT ions detectable in a mass
spectrometer are selected from the group consisting of positive
ions with a mass/charge ratio (m/z) of 291.10.+-.0.50,
255.20.+-.0.50, and 79.20.+-.0.50. In particularly preferred
embodiments, a DHT precursor ion has m/z of 291.10.+-.0.50, and one
or more fragment ions are selected from the group consisting of
ions having m/z of 255.20.+-.0.50 and 79.20.+-.0.50.
[0013] In preferred embodiments, a separately detectable internal
standard is provided in the sample, the amount of which is also
determined in the sample. In these embodiments, all or a portion of
both the endogenous DHT and the internal standard present in the
sample is ionized to produce a plurality of ions detectable in a
mass spectrometer, and one or more ions produced from each are
detected by mass spectrometry.
[0014] A preferred internal standard is 16,16,17-d.sub.3
dihydrotestosterone (16,16,17-d.sub.3 DHT). In preferred
embodiments, the internal standard ions detectable in a mass
spectrometer are selected from the group consisting of positive
ions with m/z of 294.10.+-.0.50 and 258.20.+-.0.50. In particularly
preferred embodiments, an internal standard precursor ion has m/z
of 294.10.+-.0.50; and an internal standard fragment ion has m/z of
258.20.+-.0.50.
[0015] In preferred embodiments, the presence or amount of the DHT
ion is related to the presence or amount of DHT in a test sample by
comparison to a reference such as 16,16,17-d.sub.3
dihydrotestosterone.
[0016] In certain preferred embodiments, the limit of quantitation
(LOQ) of DHT is within the range of 5.0 ng/dL to 200 ng/dL,
inclusive; preferably within the range of 5.0 ng/dL to 100 ng/dL,
inclusive; preferably within the range of 5.0 ng/dL to 50 ng/dL,
inclusive; preferably within the range of 5.0 ng/dL to 25 ng/dL,
inclusive; preferably within the range of 5.0 ng/dL to 15 ng/dL,
inclusive; preferably within the range of 5.0 ng/dL to 10 ng/dL,
inclusive; preferably about 5.0 ng/dL.
[0017] As used herein, unless otherwise stated, the singular forms
"a," "an," and "the" include plural reference. Thus, for example, a
reference to "a protein" includes a plurality of protein
molecules.
[0018] As used herein, "derivatizing" means reacting two molecules
to form a new molecule. Derivatizing a molecule of an androgen,
such as a molecule of DHT, may be carried out with numerous
derivatization reagents well known in the art. See, for example,
Kashiwagi, B., et al., J Andrology 2005, 26:586-91, and Kashiwagi,
B., et al., Urology 2005, 66:218-23, which reports derivatization
of DHT with fluoro-1-methylpyridinium-P-tolulene sulfonate prior to
extraction. As used herein, "underivatized" means not derivatized.
Thus, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), without indication of
derivatization, is underivatized DHT.
[0019] As used herein, the term "purification" or "purifying" does
not refer to removing all materials from the sample other than the
analyte(s) of interest. Instead, purification refers to a procedure
that enriches the amount of one or more analytes of interest
relative to other components in the sample that may interfere with
detection of the analyte of interest. Purification of the sample by
various means may allow relative reduction of one or more
interfering substances, e.g., one or more substances that may or
may not interfere with the detection of selected DHT parent or
daughter ions by mass spectrometry. Relative reduction as this term
is used does not require that any substance, present with the
analyte of interest in the material to be purified, is entirely
removed by purification.
[0020] As used herein, the term "test sample" refers to any sample
that may contain DHT. As used herein, the term "body fluid" means
any fluid that can be isolated from the body of an individual. For
example, "body fluid" may include blood, plasma, serum, bile,
saliva, urine, tears, perspiration, and the like.
[0021] As used herein, the term "chromatography" refers to a
process in which a chemical mixture carried by a liquid or gas is
separated into components as a result of differential distribution
of the chemical entities as they flow around or over a stationary
liquid or solid phase.
[0022] As used herein, the term "liquid chromatography" or "LC"
means a process of selective retardation of one or more components
of a fluid solution as the fluid uniformly percolates through a
column of a finely divided substance, or through capillary
passageways. The retardation results from the distribution of the
components of the mixture between one or more stationary phases and
the bulk fluid, (i.e., mobile phase), as this fluid moves relative
to the stationary phase(s). Examples of "liquid chromatography"
include reverse phase liquid chromatography (RPLC), high
performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and high turbulence
liquid chromatography (HTLC).
[0023] As used herein, the term "high performance liquid
chromatography" or "HPLC" refers to liquid chromatography in which
the degree of separation is increased by forcing the mobile phase
under pressure through a stationary phase, typically a densely
packed column.
[0024] As used herein, the term "high turbulence liquid
chromatography" or "HTLC" refers to a form of chromatography that
utilizes turbulent flow of the material being assayed through the
column packing as the basis for performing the separation. HTLC has
been applied in the preparation of samples containing two unnamed
drugs prior to analysis by mass spectrometry. See, e.g., Zimmer et
al., J Chromatogr A 854: 23-35 (1999); see also, U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,968,367, 5,919,368, 5,795,469, and 5,772,874, which further
explain HTLC. Persons of ordinary skill in the art understand
"turbulent flow". When fluid flows slowly and smoothly, the flow is
called "laminar flow". For example, fluid moving through an HPLC
column at low flow rates is laminar. In laminar flow the motion of
the particles of fluid is orderly with particles moving generally
in straight lines. At faster velocities, the inertia of the water
overcomes fluid frictional forces and turbulent flow results. Fluid
not in contact with the irregular boundary "outruns" that which is
slowed by friction or deflected by an uneven surface. When a fluid
is flowing turbulently, it flows in eddies and whirls (or
vortices), with more "drag" than when the flow is laminar. Many
references are available for assisting in determining when fluid
flow is laminar or turbulent (e.g., Turbulent Flow Analysis:
Measurement and Prediction, P. S. Bernard & J. M. Wallace, John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., (2000); An Introduction to Turbulent Flow,
Jean Mathieu & Julian Scott, Cambridge University Press
(2001)).
[0025] As used herein, the term "gas chromatography" or "GC" refers
to chromatography in which the sample mixture is vaporized and
injected into a stream of carrier gas (as nitrogen or helium)
moving through a column containing a stationary phase composed of a
liquid or a particulate solid and is separated into its component
compounds according to the affinity of the compounds for the
stationary phase.
[0026] As used herein, the term "large particle column" or
"extraction column" refers to a chromatography column containing an
average particle diameter greater than about 50 .mu.m. As used in
this context, the term "about" means.+-.10%.
[0027] As used herein, the term "analytical column" refers to a
chromatography column having sufficient chromatographic plates to
effect a separation of materials in a sample that elute from the
column sufficient to allow a determination of the presence or
amount of an analyte. Such columns are often distinguished from
"extraction columns", which have the general purpose of separating
or extracting retained material from non-retained materials in
order to obtain a purified sample for further analysis. As used in
this context, the term "about" means.+-.10%. In a preferred
embodiment the analytical column contains particles of about 4
.mu.m in diameter.
[0028] As used herein, the term "on-line" or "inline", for example
as used in "on-line automated fashion" or "on-line extraction"
refers to a procedure performed without the need for operator
intervention. In contrast, the term "off-line" as used herein
refers to a procedure requiring manual intervention of an operator.
Thus, if samples are subjected to precipitation, and the
supernatants are then manually loaded into an autosampler, the
precipitation and loading steps are off-line from the subsequent
steps. In various embodiments of the methods, one or more steps may
be performed in an on-line automated fashion.
[0029] As used herein, the term "mass spectrometry" or "MS" refers
to an analytical technique to identify compounds by their mass. MS
refers to methods of filtering, detecting, and measuring ions based
on their mass-to-charge ratio, or "m/z". MS technology generally
includes (1) ionizing the compounds to form charged compounds; and
(2) detecting the molecular weight of the charged compounds and
calculating a mass-to-charge ratio. The compounds may be ionized
and detected by any suitable means. A "mass spectrometer" generally
includes an ionizer and an ion detector. In general, one or more
molecules of interest are ionized, and the ions are subsequently
introduced into a mass spectrographic instrument where, due to a
combination of magnetic and electric fields, the ions follow a path
in space that is dependent upon mass ("m") and charge ("z"). See,
e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,204,500, entitled "Mass Spectrometry From
Surfaces;" 6,107,623, entitled "Methods and Apparatus for Tandem
Mass Spectrometry;" 6,268,144, entitled "DNA Diagnostics Based On
Mass Spectrometry;" 6,124,137, entitled "Surface-Enhanced
Photolabile Attachment And Release For Desorption And Detection Of
Analytes;" Wright et al., Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases
1999, 2: 264-76; and Merchant and Weinberger, Electrophoresis 2000,
21: 1164-67.
[0030] As used herein, the term "operating in negative ion mode"
refers to those mass spectrometry methods where negative ions are
generated and detected. The term "operating in positive ion mode"
as used herein, refers to those mass spectrometry methods where
positive ions are generated and detected.
[0031] As used herein, the term "ionization" or "ionizing" refers
to the process of generating an analyte ion having a net electrical
charge equal to one or more electron units. Negative ions are those
having a net negative charge of one or more electron units, while
positive ions are those having a net positive charge of one or more
electron units.
[0032] As used herein, the term "electron ionization" or "EI"
refers to methods in which an analyte of interest in a gaseous or
vapor phase interacts with a flow of electrons. Impact of the
electrons with the analyte produces analyte ions, which may then be
subjected to a mass spectrometry technique.
[0033] As used herein, the term "chemical ionization" or "CI"
refers to methods in which a reagent gas (e.g. ammonia) is
subjected to electron impact, and analyte ions are formed by the
interaction of reagent gas ions and analyte molecules.
[0034] As used herein, the term "fast atom bombardment" or "FAB"
refers to methods in which a beam of high energy atoms (often Xe or
Ar) impacts a non-volatile sample, desorbing and ionizing molecules
contained in the sample. Test samples are dissolved in a viscous
liquid matrix such as glycerol, thioglycerol, m-nitrobenzyl
alcohol, 18-crown-6 crown ether, 2-nitrophenyloctyl ether,
sulfolane, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine. The choice of an
appropriate matrix for a compound or sample is an empirical
process.
[0035] As used herein, the term "matrix-assisted laser desorption
ionization" or "MALDI" refers to methods in which a non-volatile
sample is exposed to laser irradiation, which desorbs and ionizes
analytes in the sample by various ionization pathways, including
photo-ionization, protonation, deprotonation, and cluster decay.
For MALDI, the sample is mixed with an energy-absorbing matrix,
which facilitates desorption of analyte molecules.
[0036] As used herein, the term "surface enhanced laser desorption
ionization" or "SELDI" refers to another method in which a
non-volatile sample is exposed to laser irradiation, which desorbs
and ionizes analytes in the sample by various ionization pathways,
including photo-ionization, protonation, deprotonation, and cluster
decay. For SELDI, the sample is typically bound to a surface that
preferentially retains one or more analytes of interest. As in
MALDI, this process may also employ an energy-absorbing material to
facilitate ionization.
[0037] As used herein, the term "electrospray ionization" or "ESI,"
refers to methods in which a solution is passed along a short
length of capillary tube, to the end of which is applied a high
positive or negative electric potential. Solution reaching the end
of the tube is vaporized (nebulized) into a jet or spray of very
small droplets of solution in solvent vapor. This mist of droplets
flows through an evaporation chamber, which is heated slightly to
prevent condensation and to evaporate solvent. As the droplets get
smaller the electrical surface charge density increases until such
time that the natural repulsion between like charges causes ions as
well as neutral molecules to be released.
[0038] As used herein, the term "atmospheric pressure chemical
ionization" or "APCI," refers to mass spectrometry methods that are
similar to ESI; however, APCI produces ions by ion-molecule
reactions that occur within a plasma at atmospheric pressure. The
plasma is maintained by an electric discharge between the spray
capillary and a counter electrode. Then ions are typically
extracted into the mass analyzer by use of a set of differentially
pumped skimmer stages. A counterflow of dry and preheated N.sub.2
gas may be used to improve removal of solvent. The gas-phase
ionization in APCI can be more effective than ESI for analyzing
less-polar species.
[0039] The term "atmospheric pressure photoionization" or "APPI" as
used herein refers to the form of ionization where the mechanism
for the ionization of molecule M is photon absorption and electron
ejection to form the molecular ion M+. Because the photon energy
typically is just above the ionization potential, the molecular ion
is less susceptible to dissociation. In many cases it may be
possible to analyze samples without the need for chromatography,
thus saving significant time and expense. In the presence of water
vapor or protic solvents, the molecular ion can extract H+ to form
MH+. This tends to occur if M has a high proton affinity. This does
not affect quantitation accuracy because the sum of M+ and MH+ is
constant. Drug compounds in protic solvents are usually observed as
MH+, whereas nonpolar compounds such as naphthalene or testosterone
usually form M+. See, e.g., Robb et al., Anal. Chem. 2000, 72(15):
3653-3659.
[0040] As used herein, the term "inductively coupled plasma" or
"ICP" refers to methods in which a sample interacts with a
partially ionized gas at a sufficiently high temperature such that
most elements are atomized and ionized.
[0041] As used herein, the term "field desorption" refers to
methods in which a non-volatile test sample is placed on an
ionization surface, and an intense electric field is used to
generate analyte ions.
[0042] As used herein, the term "desorption" refers to the removal
of an analyte from a surface and/or the entry of an analyte into a
gaseous phase. Laser diode thermal desorption is a technique
wherein a sample containing the analyte is thermally desorbed into
the gas phase by a laser pulse. The laser hits the back of a
specially made 96-well plate with a metal base. The laser pulse
heats the base and the heats causes the sample to transfer into the
gas phase. The gas phase sample is then drawn into the mass
spectrometer.
[0043] As used herein, the term "selective ion monitoring" is a
detection mode for a mass spectrometric instrument in which only
ions within a relatively narrow mass range, typically about one
mass unit, are detected.
[0044] As used herein, "multiple reaction mode," sometimes known as
"selected reaction monitoring," is a detection mode for a mass
spectrometric instrument in which a precursor ion and one or more
fragment ions are selectively detected.
[0045] As used herein, the term "limit of quantification", "limit
of quantitation" or "LOQ" refers to the point where measurements
become quantitatively meaningful. The analyte response at this LOQ
is identifiable, discrete and reproducible with a relative standard
deviation (RSD %) of 20% and an accuracy of 80% to 120%.
[0046] As used herein, the term "limit of detection" or "LOD" is
the point at which the measured value is larger than the
uncertainty associated with it. The LOD is the point at which a
value is beyond the uncertainty associated with its measurement and
is defined as two times the RSD of the mean at the zero
concentration.
[0047] As used herein, an "amount" of DHT in a body fluid sample
refers generally to an absolute value reflecting the mass of DHT
detectable in volume of body fluid. However, an amount also
contemplates a relative amount in comparison to another DHT amount.
For example, an amount of DHT in a body fluid can be an amount
which is greater than a control or normal level of DHT normally
present.
[0048] The term "about" as used herein in reference to quantitative
measurements not including the measurement of the mass of an ion,
refers to the indicated value plus or minus 10%. Mass spectrometry
instruments can vary slightly in determining the mass of a given
analyte. The term "about" in the context of the mass of an ion or
the mass/charge ratio of an ion refers to +/-0.50 atomic mass
unit.
[0049] The summary of the invention described above is non-limiting
and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent
from the following detailed description of the invention, and from
the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0050] FIG. 1 shows a plot of the coefficient of variation of
assays of a blank and five standards used to determine the limit of
quantitation of the DHT assay. Details are discussed in Example
5.
[0051] FIG. 2 shows the linearity of the quantitation of DHT in
serially diluted stock samples using an LC-MS/MS assay. Details are
described in Example 6.
[0052] FIGS. 3A and 3B show the correlation of DHT determination by
an exemplary HPLC-MS method of the present invention with DHT
determination by a reference radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. The
correlation shown in FIG. 3A was determined by linear regression.
The correlation shown in FIG. 3B was determined by Deming analysis.
Details are described in Example 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0053] Methods of the present invention are described for measuring
the amount of DHT in a sample. More specifically, mass
spectrometric methods are described for detecting and quantifying
DHT in a test sample. The methods may utilize high turbulence
liquid chromatography (HTLC), to perform a purification of selected
analytes, and combine this purification with methods of mass
spectrometry (MS), thereby providing a high-throughput assay system
for detecting and quantifying DHT in a test sample. The preferred
embodiments are particularly well suited for application in large
clinical laboratories for automated DHT assay.
[0054] Suitable test samples for use in methods of the present
invention include any test sample that may contain the analyte of
interest. In some preferred embodiments, a sample is a biological
sample; that is, a sample obtained from any biological source, such
as an animal, a cell culture, an organ culture, etc. In certain
preferred embodiments, samples are obtained from a mammalian
animal, such as a dog, cat, horse, etc. Particularly preferred
mammalian animals are primates, most preferably male or female
humans. Particularly preferred samples include bodily fluids such
as blood, plasma, serum, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, or tissue
samples. Such samples may be obtained, for example, from a patient;
that is, a living person, male or female, presenting oneself in a
clinical setting for diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment of a
disease or condition. The test sample is preferably obtained from a
patient, for example, blood serum or plasma. A sample volume of
about 0.5 mL is preferred; however, samples of about 0.1 mL can be
analyzed.
[0055] The present invention contemplates kits for an DHT
quantitation assay. A kit for an DHT quantitation assay of the
present invention may include a kit comprising an internal
standard, in amounts sufficient for at least one assay. Typically,
the kits will also include instructions recorded in a tangible form
(e.g., contained on paper or an electronic medium) for using the
packaged reagents for use in a measurement assay for determining
the amount of DHT.
[0056] Calibration and QC pools for use in embodiments of the
present invention can be prepared using "stripped" plasma or serum
(stripped of DHT): for example, double charcoal-stripped and
delipidized serum. All sources of human or non-human stripped
plasma or serum should be checked to ensure that they do not
contain measurable amounts of DHT.
Sample Preparation for Mass Spectrometry
[0057] Test samples may be stored below room temperature. Test
samples (including controls) stored below room temperature are
first allowed to come to room temperature and mixed by mechanical
vortex. Internal standard may be added to the test samples at this
point.
[0058] The samples may then be prepared for mass spectrometry by
liquid-liquid or solid-phase extraction. Various methods may be
used to enrich DHT relative to other components in the sample (e.g.
protein) prior mass spectrometry, including for example, liquid
chromatography, filtration, centrifugation, thin layer
chromatography (TLC), electrophoresis including capillary
electrophoresis, affinity separations including immunoaffinity
separations, extraction methods including ethyl acetate or methanol
extraction, and the use of chaotropic agents or any combination of
the above or the like.
[0059] Protein precipitation is one method of preparing a test
sample, especially a biological test sample, such as serum or
plasma. Such protein purification methods are well known in the
art, for example, Polson et al., Journal of Chromatography B 2003,
785:263-275, describes protein precipitation techniques suitable
for use in methods of the present invention. Protein precipitation
may be used to remove most of the protein from the sample leaving
DHT in the supernatant. The samples may be centrifuged to separate
the liquid supernatant from the precipitated proteins;
alternatively the samples may be filtered to remove precipitated
proteins. The resultant supernatant or filtrate may then be applied
directly to mass spectrometry analysis; or alternatively to liquid
chromatography and subsequent mass spectrometry analysis. In
certain embodiments, the use of protein precipitation such as for
example, formic acid protein precipitation, may obviate the need
for HTLC or other on-line extraction prior to mass spectrometry or
HPLC and mass spectrometry.
[0060] Accordingly, in some embodiments, protein precipitation,
alone or in combination with one or more purification methods, may
be used for purification of DHT prior to mass spectrometry. In
these embodiments, the methods may involve (1) performing a protein
precipitation of the sample of interest; and (2) loading the
supernatant directly onto the LC-mass spectrometer without using
on-line extraction or HTLC. Alternatively, the methods may involve
(1) performing a protein precipitation of the sample of interest;
and (2) loading the supernatant onto a HTLC column to perform
on-line extraction for further purification prior to mass
spectrometry.
[0061] One means of sample purification that may be used prior to
mass spectrometry is liquid chromatography (LC). Certain methods of
liquid chromatography, including HPLC, rely on relatively slow,
laminar flow technology. Traditional HPLC analysis relies on column
packing in which laminar flow of the sample through the column is
the basis for separation of the analyte of interest from the
sample. The skilled artisan will understand that separation in such
columns is a diffusional process and may select HPLC instruments
and columns that are suitable for use with DHT. The chromatographic
column typically includes a medium (i.e., a packing material) to
facilitate separation of chemical moieties (i.e., fractionation).
The medium may include minute particles. The particles include a
bonded surface that interacts with the various chemical moieties to
facilitate separation of the chemical moieties. One suitable bonded
surface is a hydrophobic bonded surface such as an alkyl bonded or
a cyano bonded surface. Alkyl bonded surfaces may include C-4, C-8,
C-12, or C-18 bonded alkyl groups. In preferred embodiments, the
column is a cyano column. The chromatographic column includes an
inlet port for receiving a sample directly or indirectly from a
solid-phase extraction or HTLC column and an outlet port for
discharging an effluent that includes the fractionated sample.
[0062] In one embodiment, the sample may be applied to the LC
column at the inlet port, eluted with a solvent or solvent mixture,
and discharged at the outlet port. Different solvent modes may be
selected for eluting the analyte(s) of interest. For example,
liquid chromatography may be performed using a gradient mode, an
isocratic mode, or a polytyptic (i.e. mixed) mode. During
chromatography, the separation of materials is effected by
variables such as choice of eluent (also known as a "mobile
phase"), elution mode, gradient conditions, temperature, etc.
[0063] In certain embodiments, an analyte may be purified by
applying a sample to a column under conditions where the analyte of
interest is reversibly retained by the column packing material,
while one or more other materials are not retained. In these
embodiments, a first mobile phase condition can be employed where
the analyte of interest is retained by the column, and a second
mobile phase condition can subsequently be employed to remove
retained material from the column, once the non-retained materials
are washed through. Alternatively, an analyte may be purified by
applying a sample to a column under mobile phase conditions where
the analyte of interest elutes at a differential rate in comparison
to one or more other materials. Such procedures may enrich the
amount of one or more analytes of interest relative to one or more
other components of the sample.
[0064] In one preferred embodiment, HPLC is conducted with a
hydrophobic column chromatographic system. In certain preferred
embodiments, a cyano analytical column (e.g., a BetaBasic Cyano
analytical column from Thermo Scientific, Inc. (5 .mu.m particle
size, 50.times.2.1 mm), or equivalent) is used. In certain
preferred embodiments, HTLC and/or HPLC are performed using HPLC
Grade 0.1% aqueous formic acid and 100% methanol as the mobile
phases.
[0065] By careful selection of valves and connector plumbing, two
or more chromatography columns may be connected as needed such that
material is passed from one to the next without the need for any
manual steps. In preferred embodiments, the selection of valves and
plumbing is controlled by a computer pre-programmed to perform the
necessary steps. Most preferably, the chromatography system is also
connected in such an on-line fashion to the detector system, e.g.,
an MS system. Thus, an operator may place a tray of samples in an
autosampler, and the remaining operations are performed under
computer control, resulting in purification and analysis of all
samples selected.
[0066] In some embodiments, HTLC may be used for purification of
DHT prior to mass spectrometry. In such embodiments, samples may be
extracted using an HTLC extraction cartridge which captures the
analyte, then eluted and chromatographed on a second HTLC column or
onto an analytical HPLC column prior to ionization. For example,
sample extraction with an HTLC extraction cartridge may be
accomplished with a large particle size (50 .mu.m) packed column.
Sample eluted off of this column may then be transferred to an HPLC
analytical column, such as a cyano analytical column, for further
purification prior to mass spectrometry. Because the steps involved
in these chromatography procedures may be linked in an automated
fashion, the requirement for operator involvement during the
purification of the analyte can be minimized. This feature may
result in savings of time and costs, and eliminate the opportunity
for operator error.
Detection and Quantitation by Mass Spectrometry
[0067] In various embodiments, DHT present in a test sample may be
ionized by any method known to the skilled artisan. Mass
spectrometry is performed using a mass spectrometer, which includes
an ion source for ionizing the fractionated sample and creating
charged molecules for further analysis. For example ionization of
the sample may be performed by electron ionization, chemical
ionization, electrospray ionization (ESI), photon ionization,
atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), photoionization,
atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI), fast atom bombardment
(FAB), liquid secondary ionization (LSI), matrix assisted laser
desorption ionization (MALDI), field ionization, field desorption,
thermospray/plasmaspray ionization, surface enhanced laser
desorption ionization (SELDI), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and
particle beam ionization. The skilled artisan will understand that
the choice of ionization method may be determined based on the
analyte to be measured, type of sample, the type of detector, the
choice of positive versus negative mode, etc.
[0068] DHT may be ionized in positive or negative mode. In
preferred embodiments, DHT is ionized by APCI in positive mode. In
related preferred embodiments, DHT ions are in a gaseous state and
the inert collision gas is argon or nitrogen; preferably argon.
[0069] In mass spectrometry techniques generally, after the sample
has been ionized, the positively charged or negatively charged ions
thereby created may be analyzed to determine a mass-to-charge
ratio. Suitable analyzers for determining mass-to-charge ratios
include quadrupole analyzers, ion traps analyzers, and
time-of-flight analyzers. The ions may be detected using several
detection modes. For example, selected ions may be detected, i.e.
using a selective ion monitoring mode (SIM), or alternatively, ions
may be detected using a scanning mode, e.g., multiple reaction
monitoring (MRM) or selected reaction monitoring (SRM). Preferably,
the mass-to-charge ratio is determined using a quadrupole analyzer.
For example, in a "quadrupole" or "quadrupole ion trap" instrument,
ions in an oscillating radio frequency field experience a force
proportional to the DC potential applied between electrodes, the
amplitude of the RF signal, and the mass/charge ratio. The voltage
and amplitude may be selected so that only ions having a particular
mass/charge ratio travel the length of the quadrupole, while all
other ions are deflected. Thus, quadrupole instruments may act as
both a "mass filter" and as a "mass detector" for the ions injected
into the instrument.
[0070] One may enhance the resolution of the MS technique by
employing "tandem mass spectrometry," or "MS/MS". In this
technique, a precursor ion (also called a parent ion) generated
from a molecule of interest can be filtered in an MS instrument,
and the precursor ion is subsequently fragmented to yield one or
more fragment ions (also called daughter ions or product ions) that
are then analyzed in a second MS procedure. By careful selection of
precursor ions, only ions produced by certain analytes are passed
to the fragmentation chamber, where collisions with atoms of an
inert gas produce the fragment ions. Because both the precursor and
fragment ions are produced in a reproducible fashion under a given
set of ionization/fragmentation conditions, the MS/MS technique may
provide an extremely powerful analytical tool. For example, the
combination of filtration/fragmentation may be used to eliminate
interfering substances, and may be particularly useful in complex
samples, such as biological samples.
[0071] The mass spectrometer typically provides the user with an
ion scan; that is, the relative abundance of each ion with a
particular mass/charge over a given range (e.g., 100 to 1000 amu).
The results of an analyte assay, that is, a mass spectrum, may be
related to the amount of the analyte in the original sample by
numerous methods known in the art. For example, given that sampling
and analysis parameters are carefully controlled, the relative
abundance of a given ion may be compared to a table that converts
that relative abundance to an absolute amount of the original
molecule. Alternatively, molecular standards may be run with the
samples, and a standard curve constructed based on ions generated
from those standards. Using such a standard curve, the relative
abundance of a given ion may be converted into an absolute amount
of the original molecule. In certain preferred embodiments, an
internal standard is used to generate a standard curve for
calculating the quantity of DHT. Methods of generating and using
such standard curves are well known in the art and one of ordinary
skill is capable of selecting an appropriate internal standard. For
example, an isotopically labeled steroid may be used as an internal
standard; in certain preferred embodiments the standard is
16,16,17-d.sub.3 dihydrotestosterone (16,16,17-d.sub.3 DHT).
Numerous other methods for relating the amount of an ion to the
amount of the original molecule will be well known to those of
ordinary skill in the art.
[0072] One or more steps of the methods may be performed using
automated machines. In certain embodiments, one or more
purification steps are performed on-line, and more preferably all
of the purification and mass spectrometry steps may be performed in
an on-line fashion.
[0073] In certain embodiments, such as MS/MS, where precursor ions
are isolated for further fragmentation, collision activation
dissociation is often used to generate the fragment ions for
further detection. In CAD, precursor ions gain energy through
collisions with an inert gas, and subsequently fragment by a
process referred to as "unimolecular decomposition." Sufficient
energy must be deposited in the precursor ion so that certain bonds
within the ion can be broken due to increased vibrational
energy.
[0074] In particularly preferred embodiments, DHT is detected
and/or quantified using MS/MS as follows. The samples are subjected
to liquid chromatography, preferably HTLC; the flow of liquid
solvent from the chromatographic column enters the heated nebulizer
interface of an MS/MS analyzer; and the solvent/analyte mixture is
converted to vapor in the heated tubing of the interface. The
analyte (e.g., DHT), contained in the nebulized solvent, is ionized
by the corona discharge needle of the interface, which applies a
large voltage to the nebulized solvent/analyte mixture. The ions,
e.g. precursor ions, pass through the orifice of the instrument and
enter the first quadrupole. Quadrupoles 1 and 3 (Q1 and Q3) are
mass filters, allowing selection of ions (i.e., selection of
"precursor" and "fragment" ions in Q1 and Q3, respectively) based
on their mass to charge ratio (m/z). Quadrupole 2 (Q2) is the
collision cell, where ions are fragmented. The first quadrupole of
the mass spectrometer (Q1) selects for molecules with the mass to
charge ratios of DHT. Precursor ions with the correct mass/charge
ratios are allowed to pass into the collision chamber (Q2), while
unwanted ions with any other mass/charge ratio collide with the
sides of the quadrupole and are eliminated. Precursor ions entering
Q2 collide with neutral argon gas molecules and fragment. This
process is called collision activated dissociation (CAD). The
fragment ions generated are passed into quadrupole 3 (Q3), where
the fragment ions of DHT are selected while other ions are
eliminated.
[0075] The methods may involve MS/MS performed in either positive
or negative ion mode; preferably positive ion mode. Using standard
methods well known in the art, one of ordinary skill is capable of
identifying one or more fragment ions of a particular precursor ion
of DHT that may be used for selection in quadrupole 3 (Q3).
[0076] As ions collide with the detector they produce a pulse of
electrons that are converted to a digital signal. The acquired data
is relayed to a computer, which plots counts of the ions collected
versus time. The resulting mass chromatograms are similar to
chromatograms generated in traditional HPLC methods. The areas
under the peaks corresponding to particular ions, or the amplitude
of such peaks, are measured and the area or amplitude is correlated
to the amount of the analyte of interest. In certain embodiments,
the area under the curves, or amplitude of the peaks, for fragment
ion(s) and/or precursor ions are measured to determine the amount
of DHT. As described above, the relative abundance of a given ion
may be converted into an absolute amount of the original analyte,
e.g., DHT, using calibration standard curves based on peaks of one
or more ions of an internal molecular standard, such as
16,16,17-d.sub.3 dihydrotestosterone.
[0077] The following examples serve to illustrate the invention.
These examples are in no way intended to limit the scope of the
methods.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Serum Sample and Reagent Preparation
[0078] Plasma samples were prepared by collecting blood in a
Vacutainer tube with no additives and allowed to clot for about 30
minutes at room temperature. Samples were then centrifuged and the
serum separated from the cells. Samples that exhibited gross
hemolysis were excluded.
[0079] Three stock solutions were prepared with DHT (Sigma Chemical
Company, Cat. No. A7755, or equivalent). A DHT stock standard
solution of 1 mg/mL in methanol was prepared in a volumetric flask.
A portion of the DHT stock standard solution was then diluted by
1:100 to prepare a DHT intermediate stock standard solution of
1,000,000 ng/dL in methanol. A portion of the intermediate stock
standard solution was used to prepare a second intermediate stock
standard solution of 2,000 ng/dL in methanol. The second
intermediate stock standard solution was used to prepare a DHT
working standard of 200 ng/dL in stripped serum.
[0080] 16,16,17-d.sub.3 dihydrotestosterone (CDN, Cat. No. D-5079,
or equivalent) was used to prepare a 1.0 mg/mL in deuterated
methanol 16,16,17-d.sub.3 dihydrotestosterone internal standard
stock solution, which was used to prepare a 1,000,000 ng/dL in
deuterated methanol 16,16,17-d.sub.3 dihydrotestosterone
intermediate internal standard stock solution. 1.0 mL of this
intermediate stock solution was used to prepare a second
intermediate internal standard stock solution at 1000 ng/dL
16,16,17-d.sub.3 dihydrotestosterone in water. A 500 ng/dL
16,16,17-d.sub.3 dihydrotestosterone internal standard working
solution was prepared by diluting 20 mL of the second intermediate
internal standard stock solution with DI water to volume in a 200
mL volumetric flask.
Example 2
Extraction of DHT from Samples Using Liquid Chromatography
[0081] Room temperature standards, controls, and patient samples
were prepared for liquid chromatography (LC) by first mixing by
mechanical vortex.
[0082] 300 .mu.L of each vortexed standard, control, and patient
sample was then transferred to a well of a 96-well plate. 300 .mu.L
of 20% formic acid and 100 .mu.L of 500 ng/mL 16,16,17-d.sub.3
dihydrotestosterone internal standard working solution were then
added to each. The plates were then vortexed and incubated at room
temperature for 30 minutes before being loaded into an autosampler
drawer.
[0083] Sample injection was performed with a Cohesive Technologies
Aria TLX-1 HTLC system using Aria OS V 1.5 or newer software. An
autosampler wash solution was prepared using 60% acetonitrile, 30%
isopropanol, and 10% acetone (v/v).
[0084] The HTLC system automatically injected 100 .mu.L of the
above prepared samples into a TurboFlow column (50.times.1.0 mm, 50
.mu.m C-18 column from Cohesive Technologies) packed with large
particles. The samples were loaded at a high flow rate (5.0 mL/min,
loading reagent 0.1% formic acid) to create turbulence inside the
extraction column. This turbulence ensured optimized binding of DHT
to the large particles in the column and the passage of residual
protein and debris to waste.
[0085] Following loading, the flow direction was reversed and the
sample eluted off to the analytical column (Thermo Scientific,
BetaBasic Cyano column, 5 .mu.m particle size, 50.times.2.1 mm). A
binary HPLC gradient was applied to the analytical column, to
separate DHT from other analytes contained in the sample. Mobile
phase A was 0.1% formic acid and mobile phase B was 100% methanol.
The HPLC gradient started with a 3% organic gradient which ramped
to 50% in approximately 4.75 minutes. The separated sample was then
subjected to MS/MS for quantitation of DHT.
[0086] The specificity of the DHT against similar analytes was
determined for the following compounds (each at a concentration of
1000 ng/dL in stripped serum): testosterone, estriol,
dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), estrone, pregnenolone, estradiol,
androstenedione, 17-OH pregnenolone, corticosterone, and
aldosterone. No significant interference for any of these compounds
was observed.
Example 3
Detection and Quantitation of DHT by MS/MS
[0087] MS/MS was performed using a Finnigan TSQ Quantum Ultra MS/MS
system (Thermo Electron Corporation). The following software
programs all from ThermoElectron were used in the Examples
described herein: Quantum Tune Master V 1.2 or newer, Xcalibur V
1.4 SR1 or newer, TSQ Quantum 1.4 or newer, and LCQuan V 2.0 with
SP1 or newer. Liquid solvent/analyte exiting the analytical column
flowed to the heated nebulizer interface of a Thermo Finnigan MS/MS
analyzer. The solvent/analyte mixture was converted to vapor in the
heated tubing of the interface. Analytes in the nebulized solvent
were ionized by APCI.
[0088] Ions passed to the first quadrupole (Q1), which selected
ions with a mass to charge ratio of 291.10.+-.0.50 m/z. Ions
entering Quadrupole 2 (Q2) collided with argon gas to generate ion
fragments, which were passed to quadrupole 3 (Q3) for further
selection. Simultaneously, the same process using isotope dilution
mass spectrometry was carried out with an internal standard,
16,16,17-d.sub.3 dihydrotestosterone. The following mass
transitions were used for detection and quantitation during
validation on positive polarity.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Mass Transitions for DHT (Positive Polarity)
Analyte Precursor Ion (m/z) Product Ion (m/z) DHT 291.10 255.20 and
79.2 16,16,17-d.sub.3 dihydrotestosterone 294.10 258.2 (internal
standard)
Example 4
Intra-Assay and Inter-Assay Precision and Accuracy
[0089] Three quality control (QC) pools were prepared from
charcoal-stripped human serum (Golden West Biologicals, Temecula,
Calif.) spiked with DHT to a concentration of 25, 75, and 150
ng/dL, to cover the presumptive reportable range of the assay.
[0090] Ten aliquots from each of the three QC pools were analyzed
in a single assay to determine the coefficient of variation (CV
(%)) of a sample within an assay. The following values were
determined:
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Intra-Assay Variation and Accuracy Level I
Level I Level III (25 ng/dL) (75 ng/dL) (150 ng/dL) Mean (ng/dL)
26.8 73.83 145.23 Standard Deviation (ng/dL) 3.98 3.02 4.58 CV (%)
14.8% 4.09% 3.16% Accuracy (%) 107.2% 98.44% 96.82%
[0091] Ten aliquots from each of the three QC pools were assayed
over ten days to determine the coefficient of variation (CV (%))
between assays. The following values were determined:
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Inter-Assay Variation and Accuracy Level I
Level I Level III (25 ng/dL) (75 ng/dL) (150 ng/dL) Mean (ng/dL)
24.51 75.18 152.31 Standard Deviation (ng/dL) 2.47 3.32 5.81 CV (%)
10.06% 4.42% 3.82% Accuracy (%) 98.04% 100.24% 101.54%
Example 5
Analytical Sensitivity: Limit of Detection (LOD) and Limit of
Quantitation (LOQ)
[0092] The LOQ is the point where measurements become
quantitatively meaningful. The analyte response at this LOQ is
identifiable, discrete and reproducible with a precision of 20% and
an accuracy of 80% to 120%. The LOQ was determined by assaying
analyte-stripped serum specimens spiked with DHT concentrations of
1.25, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 ng/dL (five replicates at each
level) then determining the CV. The results were plotted (shown in
FIG. 1) and the LOQ was determined from the curve to be 5.0
ng/dL.
[0093] The LOD is the point at which a value is beyond the
uncertainty associated with its measurement and is defined as two
standard deviations from the zero concentration. To determine the
LOQ for the DHT assay, blank samples of charcoal-stripped serum
were run in ten replicates. The results of these assays were
statistically analyzed with a mean value of 1.0 ng/dL, and a
standard deviation of 0.5 ng/dL. Thus, the LOD for the DHT was 2.0
ng/dL.
Example 6
Assay Reportable Range and Linearity
[0094] To establish the linearity of DHT detection in the assay,
one blank assigned as zero standard and five spiked serum standards
at concentrations ranging from 10 to 200 ng/dL were assayed. The
correlation value of the concentration range tested (0 to 200
ng/dL) was greater than 0.995. A graph showing the linearity of the
standard curve up to 200 ng/dL is shown in FIG. 2.
Example 7
Matrix Specificity
[0095] Matrix specificity was evaluated by diluting patient serum
samples two-fold and four-fold with the following matrices:
analyte-stripped serum (charcoal stripped serum, Cat. No. SP1070,
Golden West Biologicals, Inc.), normal human defibrinated serum
(Cat. No. 1101-00, Biocell Labs, Carson, Calif. 90746, or
equivalent), and deionized (DI) water. Two serum samples were
spiked with the following concentrations of DHT: 92.4 ng/dL, 64.1
ng/dL. The spiked serums were then diluted 2.times. and 4.times.
with the above matrices and analyzed. The study indicated that all
three matrices can be used to dilute samples with analyte values
above the linear range. The results of this study are presented in
Table 4.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Matrix Specificity of DHT Expected Biocell
DI Dilution Concentration Stripped Serum Water Factor (ng/dL) Serum
(ng/dL) (ng/dL) (ng/dL) Sample 1 -- 92.4 2x 46.2 47.7 50.8 49 4x
21.1 24.1 21.1 22.5 Sample 2 -- 64.1 2x 32.05 37.3 34.6 34.8 4x
16.03 19.1 18.9 16.4
Example 8
Recovery Studies
[0096] Quality control (QC) samples were used for recovery studies.
Low, mid, and high QC samples were spiked with DHT to a
concentration of 112.5, 137.5, and 175 ng/dL, respectively
[0097] A recovery study of these DHT spiked samples was performed
(five assays at each concentration). Absolute recovery was
calculated by dividing the DHT concentration detected in the pooled
samples by the expected DHT concentration in samples. The mean
recoveries were 89.01%, 90.15%, and 94.93%, respectively. All
recoveries were acceptable, i.e., within the range of 80% to
120%.
Example 9
Specimen Studies
[0098] Specimens were derived from sample collection tubes with no
additives (for serum), serum separator tubes (SST), EDTA tubes, or
sodium heparin tubes (36 samples, 18 from males and 18 from
females). Four male and one female EDTA samples, as well as one
female heparin sample, were excluded as unsuitable for analysis
because of being either grossly hemolytic or lipemic. The remainder
were tested for the applicability of the instant methods to various
sample types. Data analysis revealed that there was little
difference between DHT levels detected in the various sample types
(see Tables 5 and 6).
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Sample Type Comparisons for DHT, Males
Sample Type Mean DHT (ng/dL) Standard Deviation (ng/dL) Serum
34.1925 20.5794 SST 39.2492 17.1014 EDTA 37.4059 15.6782 Heparin
42.7082 15.0552
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Sample Type Comparisons for DHT, Females
Sample Type Mean DHT (ng/dL) Standard Deviation (ng/dL) Serum
26.6482 14.6048 SST 24.3991 18.8417 EDTA 28.9525 12.8975 Heparin
23.0536 18.8463
Example 10
Comparison of HTLC-MS and RIA Studies
[0099] A comparison study was performed using patient samples
covering the reportable range, assayed by the instant methods with
a reference radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. Correlation was
determined by linear regression (shown in FIG. 3A) and Deming
analysis (shown in FIG. 3B). The correlation coefficient for linear
regression analysis was 0.88.
[0100] The contents of the articles, patents, and patent
applications, and all other documents and electronically available
information mentioned or cited herein, are hereby incorporated by
reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each
individual publication was specifically and individually indicated
to be incorporated by reference. Applicants reserve the right to
physically incorporate into this application any and all materials
and information from any such articles, patents, patent
applications, or other physical and electronic documents.
[0101] The methods illustratively described herein may suitably be
practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or
limitations, not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example,
the terms "comprising", "including," containing", etc. shall be
read expansively and without limitation. Additionally, the terms
and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of
description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the
use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of
the features shown and described or portions thereof. It is
recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope
of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that
although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by
preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and
variation of the invention embodied therein herein disclosed may be
resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such
modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope
of this invention.
[0102] The invention has been described broadly and generically
herein. Each of the narrower species and subgeneric groupings
falling within the generic disclosure also form part of the
methods. This includes the generic description of the methods with
a proviso or negative limitation removing any subject matter from
the genus, regardless of whether or not the excised material is
specifically recited herein.
[0103] Other embodiments are within the following claims. In
addition, where features or aspects of the methods are described in
terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize
that the invention is also thereby described in terms of any
individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.
* * * * *